Boost for school libraries as £1,000 prizes return

National Book Tokens, in continued partnership with Read for Good, has launched its annual Schools Prize. The initiative invites teachers, librarians, parents and communities to nominate schools to win funding to revitalise their libraries with new books.

Now in its twelfth year, the campaign will award five major prizes of £1,000 in National Book Tokens gift cards. In 2026, to coincide with the UK’s National Year of Reading, the initiative expands further. It is introducing weekly spot prizes of £100 to one school each week between 6 May and 24 June. This more than doubles the number of schools able to expand their library collections this year.

Winning schools can spend their gift cards at participating bookshops across the UK and Ireland. Expert support is also available to help select books suited to pupils’ needs. Nominations are open until 8 July 2026, with the five main winners announced in September 2026. Meanwhile, weekly winners will be revealed via National Book Tokens’ channels.

In 2025, winning schools included:

• Dundonald Primary School in Belfast
• St Luke’s School in Redbourn, Hertfordshire
• Meols Cop High School in Southport
• Ysgol Llywelyn in Rhyl
• St Mary’s C of E Primary School in Truro

The initiative continues to build on the longstanding partnership between National Book Tokens and Read for Good. It includes the successful Readathon® programme, bringing books and storytelling to children in hospitals and schools across the UK.

Both organisations share a commitment to reading for pleasure, which is linked to improved academic outcomes, enhanced wellbeing, and the development of empathy and other vital life skills, according to research by the National Literacy Trust.

Recent Read for Good research highlights a continued fall in the number of school libraries. Where they do still exist, schools face significant funding challenges in maintaining well-stocked libraries with modern and appealing books. Teachers consistently cite a lack of funding as the main barrier to improvement.

As one teacher explains:

“School budgets are increasingly tight and to complete the refresh we need to, we just don’t have the funds. To have the greatest impact our book stocks need a complete overhaul and to do this we need financial support.” Another adds: “Books are outdated and scruffy. The school budget is stretched, and it has not been a priority for spending.”

Despite these challenges, library engagement remains strong where provision exists. According to recent findings by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 64 per cent of 5–10-year-olds and 58 per cent of 11–15-year-olds visited a library in the past year. This demonstrates continued demand for accessible and engaging reading spaces, which the Schools Prize has met with impressive results.

Since the prize began in 2014, 28 schools across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland have collectively received £60,000 in funding. Schools have used the awards to rebuild underfunded libraries, stock new spaces, and broaden collections to better reflect and support all pupils. This includes books for dyslexic and autistic readers, graphic novels and comics, and pupil-selected reading materials.

Cherry Land, Acting CEO of Read for Good, said:

“It’s a startling reality that while libraries are a legal requirement in our prisons, they aren’t in our schools. At Read for Good, we believe every child deserves a library that reflects their world and piques their interest. We’re proud to partner with National Book Tokens to bridge this gap, giving schools the vibrant, new books they need to turn students into lifelong readers and explorers.”

Lisa Bywater, Head of Marketing at National Book Tokens, added:

“During the UK’s National Year of Reading, it’s more important than ever to ensure every child has access to books that inspire a lifelong love of reading. This prize is about more than just refreshing library shelves – it’s about giving children the opportunity to discover stories that reflect their lives, spark their imagination, and build the confidence and curiosity that reading for pleasure brings. Much like our ongoing work with Read for Good, the year-on-year success of this campaign clearly illustrates the very real need for, and impact of, sustained investment in reading.”

Schools and colleges across the North West can further celebrate the power of reading by entering Educate Awards’ School Library of the Year category. This award recognises outstanding library spaces that inspire learning, literacy and a lifelong love of reading.